Various - Deep Elm Unreleased No 2
by Benjamin Howarth
published: 13 / 6 / 2003

Label:
Deep Elm
Format: CD
intro
Strong-as-always compilation from the Deep Elm label, featuring unreleased tracks by some of its leading bands
This is the second instalment of a series where Deep Elm offers you unreleased tracks from some of its leading bands. I’m finding it increasingly hard to review Deep Elm stuff, because it’s all great without any exception. John and Chuck, the label's owners, are real music fans, and only put out stuff that they are 100% into. My one complaint with Deep Elm is that they put out SO much good music, its impossible to buy it all and sometimes a great band slips through the net. For example, only in the last month have I properly discovered Pop Unknown and it turns out that they’re an incredible band, with heartfelt and catchy songs and gorgeous jangly guitars. Damnit. I should have been listening to them years ago. So in a way it’s pointless trying to review their records. If you love heartfelt, emotional and original indie rock then you’ll love this record. There’s the punkier, Dischord type stuff of The White Octave and then there is the poppy emo stuff like the amazing Cross My Heart. There's the folky pop of David Singer and then there’s the post rock type feel of The Appleseed Cast. Even someone who hates indie-rock bands like Sonic Youth (in fact, I’m not a big Sonic Youth fan myself, they’re alright but emo is better!) might find themselves touched by the bare-all nature of the words. This review may have little by the way of criticism, granted, but I wrote it because I hope that someone out there takes a chance on Deep Elm because of it. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
Track Listing:-
1 The White Octave– A Chinese Character2 Cross My Heart– Complications
3 Benton Falls– Occupied For Now
4 The Appleseed Cast– The Spider Wall
5 Walt Mink– Downright Presidential
6 Drive Til Morning– Tell Me A Story
7 David Singer– A Mercenary Love Song
8 Race Car Riot– Discontinued
9 Camber– Lantern Circle
10 Slowride– This Train
most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025Yardbirds - Interview with Jim McCarty
Johnny Cash - Video Vault
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
John Philip Shenale - Interview
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Man From Delmonte - Interview
Loft - Interview
Vapors - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Bryan Ferry and Amelia Barrett - Loose TalkIvor Game - When Will You Fall Into My Loving Arms?
Gabriel Moreno - Nights in the Belly of Bohemia
Doris Brendel and Lee Dunham - Big Blue Sky
Brooke Combe - Dancing at the Edge of the World
Shaw's Trailer Park - I Thought I Saw You
Bryan Adams - Live at the Royal Albert Hall 2024
Ringo Starr - Look Up
FKA twigs - Eusexua
Leon Bridges - Leon
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart